Lincoln Caverns celebrates 85 years of discovery

HUNTINGDON - This year's 12th Annual Discovery Days, June 25 and 26 at Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks, 7703 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon, features historic interpretive tours of the two crystal caverns plus free workshops and activities for the whole family.

Advance tickets or registration are not required for a range of events scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

A tentative schedule listed on the caverns' website, lincolncaverns.com, includes events and activities such as Introduction to Speleology, Just Jurassic, Crazy About Caves, Fossil Fanatics and Batty About Bats.

According to its website, Lincoln Caverns was discovered in May 1930 during construction of U.S. Route 22. The family who farmed the land on which the cavern was discovered opened it as an attraction in 1931 and operated it for one season before leasing and then selling it to Myron Dunlavy Sr. of Buffalo, N.Y., an amateur vaudevillian and cave lover.

Dunlavy's son, Myron Dunlavy Jr., was the next operator. He discovered Whisper Rocks, now part of the cavern tour, in 1941. His daughter, Ann Dunlavy, manages the caverns today.

For more information about Lincoln Canverns and Whisper Rocks, and about Discovery Days, visit lincolncaverns.com.